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Copy 1 ■^, ten cents. 



SYLLABUS 



OF 



TWELVE LECTURES 



IN THE 



Rhode Island University Extension 



UPON THE 



Rise and Growth of the Government of the 
United States of America 



Ef BENJ. ANDREWS 



PROVIDENCE : 
E. A. Johnson & Co., Printers. 



El \S3 

•As- 



LECTURE I. 



Origfin of the English Constitution. 



Stubbs's " Constitutional History of England." (To 1485.) . . . *8077.5 

Stubbs's " The Early Plantagenets " 2075.7 

Freeman's " History of the Norman Conquest of England "... 2075.2 

Freeman's " Old English History" 2074.6 

Freeman's " The Growth of the English Constitution " . . . .8077.11 
Palgrave's " The Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth" . 2074.9 

Gneist's " History of the English Constitution " 8077.27 

Creasy's " The Rise and Progress of the English Constitution " . . 8077.25 
Taswell-Langmaad's " Outlines of English Constitutional History " . . 8077.29 
Ransome's " Rise of Constitutional Government in England" . . 8077.51 

Green's " Short History of the English People " 207.3 

Green's " History of the English People " ...... 207.9 

Green's " The Making of England," (449— 829) 2074.10 

Green's " The Conquest of England," (829— 1071) .... 2074.16 

Pauli's " Pictures of Old England." 

Pauli's " The History of Alfred the Great " 2074.4 



Early Euglisli History as truly Ours as England's. 

I. The Angles and Saxons. — Their resemblance to the other Ger- 

mans, and their pocnliarities. These all in the direction of 
freedom. 

II. The Crossing to England and its Effects. — (a) Kings now, 

and {b) a general centralizing tendency in government. 
Hence', at last, a single Monarchy. Causes of this unity : (a) Opposition 
of Kelts, (b) The Danish Wars, (c) The Church. 1. Its spirit helpful to 
cooperation. 2. It ignores nationality. 

III. The Saxon Constitntion. — Tithing : Township : Hundred : 

Shire. 
Freedom: Elective Office: Responsibility for Crime: Representation. 

* The numbers are those by which to call for the books, at the Providence 
Library. In the few instances where no numbers are given, the books are not in 
the Public Library. Those attending this course are also very heartily invited by 
the Librarian to communicate with him in regard to works supplementing those 
named above, in all directions which may interest them. 



.4 

IV. The Norman Conquest and its Results. — The new English 

Nature. ' r' ^ ' ; 

Now was laid the Foundation of English Liberty. 

1. Causes making for Royal power against aristocracy : (a) William's 
theory of his Title, (b) Sheriffs and Militia, (c) Tlie Scattering of Vassals' 
Estates, {d) Insistence u2:)on direct allegiance on the part of all land- 
holders. 

2. Causes limiting Royal power : (a) The Paladin System, (b) 
Hereditai-y Sheriffs, (c) Might of the Church. 

In consequence of this wavering balance between King and aristocracy, 
FREEDOM to commou people. 

V. The Baron's War and the Great Charter. — Peculiarities 

of the Charter : 1. Rights may be wrested from a Kiug. 2. Exact- 
ness and Particularity of Concessions. 3. Recognition of Rights 
of Common People. 

VI. Rise of Parliament. — The first model Parliament occurs in 

1295, the principle of representation thus coming at length to 
prevail on a National scale. 

Peerage and Commons. 

Great Charter had recognized two classes of tenants-in-chief. 

The law Quia Emptores, of Edward I, jiermits alienation of land, still 
insisting on direct and full allegiance. 

The Statute of Westminster II, permits entail. Tlie first of these laws 
produces a great number of small tenants-in-chief. The second, a number 
of great tenants-in-chief. 

Then, limiting the families summoned narrows the peerage, while 
''distraint of knighthood" on wealthy bourgeois causes amalgamation of 
lower nobility with common people. 



Ilecture II 



The Reformation as Affecting the English Constitution. 



Hallam's " Constitutional History of England," (1485—17(30) . . 8077.22 

Seebohm's " Tlie Oxford Reformers of 1498." 

Seebohm's " The Era of the Protestant Revolution " .... 206.14 

Fisher's " The Reformation " 5080.21 

Creighton's " The Age of Elizabeth " 2077.3 

Brewer's " The Reign of Henry VIII. " 

Froude's " History of England " (1530— 1603) 2077.2 

Lingard's " History of England." Gives tlie Catholic view. . . . 207.10 
See also Green, as before. 



I. Brief Review of English Keforinatioii History. 

II. Tliree Special Facts necessary to an understanding of 

the Reioriuation in England. — 1. The Peculuir ISatnre 
and Posture of the Cliurch in England. 2. Tlie Influence of 
Wyclif. 3. The (for England) abnormal might of the English 
Monarchy at the death of Henry VII. 

III. The Reformation Strengthens Monarchy Still More. 

1. Wolsey, and so the King, even before the revolt, govern England 
in Spiritual things. 

2. King is centre of efficient opposition to Pope. 

3. Causes of this opposition : Old dislike of Church ; Wolsey's pride 
and pomp; Pope's treatment of Henry VIII. ; Success of Eeformation 
abroad. At length, 

4. King hecomes EngJancVs Pope. 

IV. The Reformation at the same time prepares the way 

for the Subordination of King to Parliament. 

1. The policy of Cromwell. Parliament, first used as King's instru- 
ment, becomes recognized as the source of law. 

2. The intervention of Parliament in deciding the royal succession 
greatly aids to this recognition. 

3. The distribution of the Monastic lands raises up a new and powerful 
nobility. 



LECTURE III. 



The Stuart Age, to the Commonwealth. 



Gardiner's " The First Two Stuarts and the Puritan Revolution " . 2078.12 

Macaulay's " History of England," chapter 1 2079.1.1 

Macaulay's " Essays," (Bacon, Hampden, Milton) . , . 072.13 

Masson's " Life of John Milton " 3071.1 

Spedding's '' Life and Times of Bacon " 

Goldwin Smith's " Three English Statesmen " .... 277. .5 

Pauli's " Oliver Cromwell" 3078.120 

Dexter's " The Congregationalism of the last Three Hundred Years, as 

seen in its literature " ...... 5075.1 



I. James I, his Character, Theories, and Policy. 

Theories: 1. Divine right of Monai'chy. 2. Primogeniture. 3. Abso- 
luteness of Monarchial authority. 4. Divine legitimacy of Episco- 
pacy. 

Policy: 1. Executions without trial. 2, Guardianship in Chivalry, 
Purveyance, Preemption. 3. Proclamations as Laws. 4. Taxation 
without vote of Parliament. 5. Enslavement of Courts. 

Parliament's brave attitude towards these views and practices. 

II. Charles I. in purpose more absolute than his Father. 

Billeting Soldiers, Demand for Ships, Forced Loans, Ignoring of 
Habeas Corpus. 

The Petition of Eight, intended to cure these outrages, evokes worse 
ones. Monopolies, distraint of Knightliood, compounding for alleged de- 
fects in titles, extension of Royal forests, Council-Table and Star-Chamber 
outrages. 

The Ship-Money Case. Hampden. His argument. 

The Long Parliament : Its acts, and parties. 

Charles leaves London: Strain upon the Constitution now. 

The Ironsides and the Battle of Naseby. Parliament Supreme. 



7 

LECTURE IV. 



The Two English Revolutions of the XVI I th Century. 



Thomas May's " History of the Long Parliament." 

Lord Clarendon's " History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England." 2078.10 
Macaulay's " History of England," (1685)— (1702) .... 2079.1 
Also works cited under Lecture III. 



Introduction. 1. Political Philosophy in this Century. Hobbes, Alger- 
non Sidney, and Locke. 
2. Ecclesiastical Schism in this Century. Anglican, 
Presbyterian, Independent. 

I. The Commonwealth. — Its Strength, Weakness, Fall. 

The fall due to : 1. Richard Cromwell's inefficiency. 2. Bigotry of 
Puritanism. 3. Fear of the Army. 4. Love for the Old Con- 
stitution. 5. Illegality and Courage of Charles I 's Death. 6. 
Policy and Acts of Charles II. 

II. The Restored Monarchy. 

Its good luorh '. Acts — I. Of indemnity and oblivion. 2. Abolishing 
purveyance, military tenure and feudal dues. 3. Establishing 
parliamentary control over supplies, and 4. Assuring Habeas 
Coqms. 

Its evil work: 1. Act of uniformity. 2. Convention act. 3. Five 

mile act. 4. Declarations of indulgence. 
James II worse than Charles II. 

III. The Revolution of 1688. 

Causes: 1. Unconstitutional procedure of Kings, as above and other- 
wise. 2. Their preference for Catholicism, and 3. Their Syco- 
phancy toward France. 

William and Mary. The House of Hanover. 

IV. Constitutional Outcome of the Struggle with the 

Stuarts. 

1. Fixation of Parties. 2. Ascendency of Protestantism. 3. Pre- 
ponderance of Commons over Lords. 4. Definitive Limitation of 
Monarchy. 

The Bill of Rights, fourth bulwark of English liberty, now set up 
beside Habeas Corpus, Great Charter, and Petition of Right. 



8 

LECTURE V. 



Colonization and Colonial Union. 

Bancroft's " History of the United States." . . . .' . 20850.1 

Hildreth's " History of the United States." 20850."S 

Tucker's "History of the United States." 

Bryant and Gay's " Popular History of the United States." . . 2085.18 

American Commonwealths, edited by H. E. Scudder, including 

Cooke's " Virginia " 20894.12 

Browne's "Maryland" 20894.15 

Roberts's "New York" 20895.25 

Johnston's " Connecticut " .... 20897.13 
And others. 
Lodge's " Short History of the English Colonies in America" . . 2084.11 

Doyle's " The English Colonies in America " 2084.12 

Parkman's " France and England in North America " 7 vols . . 228.4 

Frothingham's " Rise of the Republic of the United States " . . . 2084.5 
Winsor's " Narrative and Critical History of America" . . . .208.1 
Thwaites's " The Colonies," 1492—1750 2084.26 

I. Spain and England as Colonizers. 

II. The Three Centres of Colonization. 

1. Virginia. Maryland. The South. 

2. New England. The N. E. Confederation. Rhode Island. 

3. The Middle Group : N. Y., N. J., Pa., Del. 

III. Constitutions of the Colonies. 

1. Internally. Political units and functions. 

2. In relation to England ; (a) The autonomous, (b) The heterono- 
mous ; the latter being either royal or proprietary. 

Parliament and prerogative as authorities in the Colonies. 

IV. England's Commercial Policy toward her Colonies, 

as distinguished from 

1. That of Spain and Portugal. 

2. That of Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and France till 1720. 
The Navigation laws. — What? 

V. England's Fight with France for the IVew World. 

1. The Wars. 

2. Reasons for England's preponderance. 

3. Results. Chief of these, Colonial union, and preparation for inde- 
pendence. 

VI. The Cause of Colonial Union. 

1. Hindrances. 2. Helps. 3. Plans. 4. Success. 

The N. Y. Convention of 1G90. That at Albany, 1754. The N. Y. 
Meeting of 1765. The First Continental Congress, 1774. 



LECTURE VI. 



The Revolutionary War. 



The very best account is G. W. Greene's " Historical View of the American 

Revolution" 20851.21 

See also the series of "American Statesmen," edited by John T. Morse, Jr., 3388.1 

Marshall's " Life of George Washington " 3088.12 

Irving's " Life of George Washington " ...... 3088.70 

Hale's " The Life of George Washington studied anew. . . . . 3088.217 

Fiske"s " Washington and his Country " 2085.40 

Scudder's " Life of George Washington " 3088.226 

Headley's " Washington and his Generals " ..... 37879.3 

Ludlow's " The War of American Independence" .... 20851.31 

Ramsay's " History of the American Revolution " 

Lossing's " Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution " .... 27851.11 
John Fiske's " The American Revolution" 20851.54 



I. The English Government, 1760-1800. 

1. George III. 

2. His Parliaments. 

3. Colonial Administration. 

II. Taxation of tlie Colonies. 

1. The Problem. 

2. England's attitude thereto. 

3. The Right of the Question. 

III. Independence. 

1. The Thought. 

2. The Declaration, 

3. Constitutional questions. 

(a) When did Royal Sovereignty cease ? 

(b) What was the exact nature of the New Sovereignty ? 

4. The New States. 

IV. The War. 

1. Its History, {a) Before beginning of 1779 : Operations chiefly at 

the North. 
(I?) After beginning of 1779 : Operations chiefly at 
the South. 

2. Support abroad, (a) Spain, Holland, and France join us against 

England. 
(b) The other European nations assist us by 
uniting in armed 7ieut7'ality. 

3. England's Conduct : Causes of her failure. 

V. The Old Confederation. 

1. Its weaknesses. 

2. Its advantages. 



LECTURE VII 



The Constitution ; Rise and General View, 



Bancroft's " History of the Formation of the Constitution of the U. S." 20850.1 

Elliot's " Debates " 8778.48 

" The Federalist " 8778.31 

Curtis's "Constitutional History of the United States," v. 1, (1774-89) 8078.57.1 
Cooley's " General Principles of Constitutional Law " . . 8078.21 

Lalor's " Cyclopajdia of Political Science." (Articles by Alexander Johnston 

on "Constitution of the United States," "Construction," etc.) Ref. 
H. Von Hoist's "Constitutional and Political History of the United States " 8078.12 
Brvce's " American Commonwealth " ...... 8078.53 



I. Causes Inducing- its Adoption. 

1. Inadequacy of the general government. 

3. Attitude of English OflBcial public. 

3. Washington's influence. 

4. Ecclesiastical disestablishment and the spread of sects. 

II. Tlie Federal Convention. 

1. Its rise. 

2. Its parties. 

3. Its work: (a) in process; (b) finished. 

4. The Constitution launched. 

III. General View of the Constitution. 

1. ''We the People." 

2. The State in the Nation. 

3. Calhonnism. 

4. Construction. 

5. Of but not in the Union. 



LECTURE VIII 



The Constitution; Tine Branclnes of Government. 



For literature, see Lecture VII. 



I. Congress. — 1. Bicameral. 2. Biennial. 3. National. 4. Not abso- 

lute. 5. Not the sole depositary of legislative power. 

II. The House of Representatives. 

1. Elections to. 2. Members. 3. Relation to Senate. 4. Sessions. 
5. Apportionment. 

III. The Senate. 

1. Constitution. 2. Conditions of Membership. 3. Elections to. 
4. Powers and functions. The latter not solely legislative, but 
partly judicial and partly executive. 

IV. The Execntive. 

1. Election. («) The old plan, (i) The new plan, (c) Undecided 
questions. 

2. Powers and duties as to (a) military, (b) treaties, (c) officers. 

V. The Judiciary. 

1. General Character: The various sorts of courts. 

2. Jurisdiction, (a) Federal cases, (b) original, appellate, and concur- 

rent jurisdiction. 

3. The courts deal with cases. 

4. Exalted rank of Supreme Court. 

VI. Constitutional Growtli and Amendment. 

1. Growth. 2. Amendments hitherto. 3. Needed Amendments. 



r-2 



LECTURE IX. 



Federalism. 



Lalor's Cyclopaedia. (Articles on " Essex junto," etc.) . . Ref. 

Henry Adams's " Documents relating to New England Federalism" . 20854.8 

Lodge's "George Washington." (American Statesmen Series) . . 3388.1.8 

Marshall's " Life of George Washington " 3088.12 

Morse's "Jolm Adams." (American Statesmen Series) . . 3388.1.11 

Morse's " Thomas JefPerson." (American Statesmen Series) . . 3388. L7 

Gay's " James Madison." (American Statesmen Series) . . 3388.1.10 

Lodge's " Alexander Hariiilton " (American Statesmen Series) . 3388.1.2 

Stevens's " Albert Gallatin." (American Statesmen Series) • . 3388.1.9 

Schouler's " History of tlie United States." (To 1847) . . . 2085.31 
McMaster's " History of the People of the United States." (1784-1803) 20850.7 



I. Frailty of the New Goveriiiiieiit at First. 

1. Anarchic Tendencies. 

2. How overcome, (a) Benefits of central government to commerce 

and business. 

(b) Gratification to men's hatred of England. 

(c) The good work of organization which was 

done early. 

II. Federalism. 

1. Shade?. 

2. Policy and Ideas as to 

(a) Tariff and Excise. 
^ (b) Funding the Debt. 

(c) The first U. S. Bank. 

III. Our Early Foreign Relations. 

1. The Napoleonic Wars. 

2. The French paity; the English party. 

3. Reasons for and against the French feeling. 

4. « " " " English « 

5. Jay's Treaty. 

6. The "X YZ mission." 

IV. Domestic Politics under Federalism. 

1. The Alien and Sedition law. 

2. Nullification. 

V. The Decline of Federalism ; Causes : 

1. Its Errors and the dissensions of its leaders. 

2. Character and ability of democratic chiefs. 

3. Main cause; growth of democratic sentiment. 

VI. The Country's Debt to Federalism. 



13 



LECTURE X. 



Early Democracy. 



Lalor's Cyclopajdia. (Articles on"Democratic-Republican Party," "Annex- 
ations," "Bank Controversies," "Whig Party" 
"Independent Treasury" "Internal Improvements." Ref. 
Henry Adams's " History of the United States." (1800-17.) . . 20850.14 
John Quincy Adams's Memoirs ........ 3088.7 

Benton's " Thirty Years' View ' 20855.1 

Parton's " Life of Andrew Jackson." ....... 8088.62 



I. General View. 

1. The period of the denioci'atic dominance divided into two parts. 

2. The great public qi^estions now. 

II. The Democratic Policy. 

1. Thrift and simplicity in government. 2. Regard for the com- 
mon man. 3. Strict Construction of the Constitittion. 4. 
Special friendliness to Agriculture and Commerce. 

III. Domestic Politics during this Period. 

1. Nullification, (a) In 1814; (b) in 18o2. Emergence of the 
" Supreme law." 

2. U. S. Banking, (a) Death of First Bank; (b) the Second Bank. 

3. Tariff, {a) Before 1828; (b) the "Tariff of abominations." 

4. Internal Improvements. 

IV. Foreign Politics during this Period. 

1. The Louisiana Purchase. 

2. The war of 1812. 

(a) Causes. 

(b) Complications and Issue. 

3. The Florida War. The Monroe Doctrine. 

4. Texas and the Mexican War. 

5. The Oregon Question. 

V. Democracy after Jackson. 



14 



LECTURE XI 



Slavery and the Constitution. 



H. Von Hoist's " Constitutional and Political History of the U. S." . 8078.12 
Wilson's " History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America." 20857.1 

Kurd's " The Law of Freedom and Bondage." 806.76 

Johnson's " William Lloyd Garrison and his Times. .... 30889 15 

Martin's " Wendell Phillips." 30889.22 

S. J. May's " Some llecollections of our Anti-Slavery Conflict." . 20857.25 
Lalor's " Cyclopaedia." (Articles on "Abolition and Abolitionists," 
" Brown, John," "Compromises," " Dred Scott Case," "Free 
Soil Party," "Fugitive Slave Laws," "Petition," '• Republican 
Party," " Slavery.") . . Ref. 



I. Beginnings of American Slavery. 

1. The History. 

2. Comments thereupon. 

II. Early Anti- Slavery Sentiment. 

1. Utterances of great men. 

2. The Ordinance of 1787. 

III. Slavery at the Commencement of ovir National Life. 

1. In the Constitutional Convention, 1787. 

2. " Constitution. The Conflict upon its merits. 

0. " First Congress. 

IV. The Moral and the Economic Aspect of Slavery. 

" King Cotton." 

V. The Great Comi^romises. 

1. That of 1820. — the Missouri Compromise. 

(a) Slavery intrenching. 

(b) Counter intrenchment. 

(c) Result of the Compromise. 

"Immediate Abolition." 

2. That of 1850. Party Attitudes. 

3. Repeal of the Missouri Compromise. 

VI. The Culmination. 

The Democratic Crash of 1860. 



15 

LECTURE XII. 



The Civil War. 



Nicolay's " The Outbreak of Rebellion." 23858.1.1. 

Greeley's " American Conflict." ....... .20858.5 

Giddings's '' The Rebellion ; its Authors and Causes.". 

Helper's "The Impending Crisis of the South." (1857) . . . 20857.5 

Botts's " The Great Rebellion." 20858.30 

Kurd's "The Theory of our National Existence." .... 8778.40 

Nicolay and Hay's " Abraham Lincoln : a History." .... 3088.24:1 

Grant's " Personal Memoirs." 30879.73 

Sherman's " Memoirs." 30879.3 

Blaine's " Twenty Years of Congress." . . . r . . 8078.28 
Lalor's Cyclopajdia, (Articles on "Confederate States," "Emancipation 
Proclamation," "Insurrection," "Habeas Corpus," "Nation," 
"Rebellion," " Reconstruction," " Secession," " State Sover- 
eignty.") , 

I. Causes. 

1. Slow development of the South. 

2. Sonth's love of Slavery. 

3. Southern Aristocracy. 

II. Secession. 

1. The Plea. 

2. The Expediency. 

3. The Constitutionality. 

4. The Accomplishment. 

5. The Result: The Southern Confederacy. 

III. Complications at the Nortli. 

1. Lack of prejiaration for War. Eesults, 1861. 

2. Northern opposition, especially after Emancipation, Jan. 1, 1863. 

(a) Abolitionists. 

(Z*) Democrats. 

(c) Sympathizers with Secession. 

3. Finances. 

4. Foreign Relations — with England : with France. 

IV. Tlie War. — Three great lines of Campaign. 

1. West, to clear the Mississippi. 

2. Centre, to reach the Sea, at Mobile, Savannah, or Charleston. 

3. East, to take Richmond and to cajjture or destroy the Confederate 
army. 

V. Reconstruction. 

1. Problems. 

2. History. 

3. Results. 



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